Team News: Everton vs Arsenal

The only tried and tested way to forget about a bad result is to follow it up with a good one.

Tonight Arsenal are given that opportunity in the form of a trip to face Everton at Goodison Park. No mean feat.

That being said, we have a pretty decent record at Goodison, winning some, drawing others and losing an amount.

The Toffees have ditched their usual bad start to the season in favour of a good one. Though their form has dropped a little of late they are still not to be taken lightly. Our rickety defence will have to contend with one of the most shot-crazy teams in Europe with only Real Madrid and Juventus having more cracks at goal (thanks to OptaJoe for that little nugget).

The thing with Arteta playing that defensive midfielder role, and with all the new age thinking in the world of possession retention etc, we miss people making the challenges between the midfield and defence, closing down these sorts of goals. That doesn't excuse the abysmal, Arsenalesque build up to the goal

Could it be the weather or the nature of that stadium (fans are very close to the play)? Whatever it is, we have been having too many mis-placed passes and appear so nervous with Sagna and Ramsey the guilty ones. Indeed, the early substitution of Kos may have rattled the boys but that's why we have some experience in the side. Wenger has to talk into the heads of these boys and help them get their act together. I feel Everton players are even surprised at how easy we have made this look.

We were hanging on there at times. Not a distinguished performance by any stretch though this was no easy game. We lacked composure and couldn't keep hold of the ball for any good period. What amazed me most was how Sagna hasn't crossed one ball tonight. He seemed to play every cross against Baines. It is a shame how we are unable to take games by the scruff and man up to the occasion. A point, just as LD predicted.

Lacking sufficient quality to win games and have no real identity as a team. Giroud a willing worker but poor touch and link up play. I think it's probably the worst Arsenal side under Wenger there's been.

you lack sufficient alpha-athletes to compete physically..... the days of Vieira, Petit, Overmars, Hank, Wiltord, Ljungberg etc etc.... now they were athletes.... you had Arteta, Cazorla and a kid called Jacque.... Men against bwoys innit peeps!

Did you reach that conclusion as a result of watching the game spuddie - while the Spud game was underway at the same time? Or are you just saying something because you think you should? As it happens we competed ok physically especially young Jack. We do need more maturity in certain positions though.